Eskimo Joe - Ghosts of the Past (15/08/2011)
As Kav opens the album with a one, two, three, four, I can feel the excitement of a new Eskimo Joe album hit me. It’s been two and a half years since the release of Inshalla but Eskimo Joe are back with their fifth studio album and most personal album yet, Ghosts of the Past. ‘Gave it All Away’ is in a slower tempo than its debut at the Norfolk earlier this year but the slower speed means you can really enjoy the melody and listen carefully to the words.
‘When we were Kids’ and ‘Love is a Drug.’ already radio favourites, hark back to the era of A Song Is A City, while ‘Echo’ is much more akin to the Black Fingernails, Red Wine era - a simple chorus with a punchy riff, it will go down a treat in the Eskimo Joe live show.
As the band continues to go from strength to strength, ‘Speeding Car’ starts. It’s a song that really hits home for me. ‘I'm a speeding car, and I can't slow down’. Hasn't everyone been through that moment of feeling completely out of control?
‘Ghosts of the Past’ comes barreling into my ears, with a catchy bass line and cute little story to match. The almost jubilant music somehow doesn't seem to match the dark story unfolding, but it just works. The song builds to a climax with desperation in Kav's voice as he tries to escape his ghosts. ‘Itch’ has a beautiful violin solo and explores the issue of infidelity. Lack of trust, and the hurt that comes from such an event is apparent with the lyrics ‘Where-ever you go, you know, Ill be watching you now’. It’s a rather beautiful yet tragic song.
My highlight of this album is ‘Just Don't Feel’. When stripped down, it’s a song about how growing up, not feeling like the person you once were and questioning everything about your life and where you are going. It’s a powerful song which will make you reflect on your own history. Some copies of the album will ship with the ‘Wastelands Version' which is more jazz fueled version with it’s own rock n roll elements.
The piano work and violins throughout this album lift it to a more beautiful place than I could have ever imagined. Eskimo Joe wanted to have an album they could just play, one that was stripped back. I can see their attempts, but this however hasn't stopped their creativity and the intricacies in their actual recording. Earlier in the year they played to small venues in a stripped back acoustic mode, where many songs were road tested, including Echo.
Some incredibly personal issues have come out of this album and its very confronting at times, but as a true fan, it opens me up to what the guys must be going through; infidelity, feeling trapped, haunted by your past, being out of control. I’m sure that many listeners will be able to relate to these emotions and the guys have done a magnificent job of putting them together into a coherent and relatable album. It’s not at the same tempo and style as their previous work and new fans might not understand the album as much. Think back to A Song Is A City with moments of Inshalla. It lifts me and takes me on a journey with them and is honestly their best piece of work to date. Even if you aren't a fan of Eskimo Joe, Ghosts of the Past is mature, cutting, and honest. Enjoy.
Tahlia Jeffery
‘When we were Kids’ and ‘Love is a Drug.’ already radio favourites, hark back to the era of A Song Is A City, while ‘Echo’ is much more akin to the Black Fingernails, Red Wine era - a simple chorus with a punchy riff, it will go down a treat in the Eskimo Joe live show.
As the band continues to go from strength to strength, ‘Speeding Car’ starts. It’s a song that really hits home for me. ‘I'm a speeding car, and I can't slow down’. Hasn't everyone been through that moment of feeling completely out of control?
‘Ghosts of the Past’ comes barreling into my ears, with a catchy bass line and cute little story to match. The almost jubilant music somehow doesn't seem to match the dark story unfolding, but it just works. The song builds to a climax with desperation in Kav's voice as he tries to escape his ghosts. ‘Itch’ has a beautiful violin solo and explores the issue of infidelity. Lack of trust, and the hurt that comes from such an event is apparent with the lyrics ‘Where-ever you go, you know, Ill be watching you now’. It’s a rather beautiful yet tragic song.
My highlight of this album is ‘Just Don't Feel’. When stripped down, it’s a song about how growing up, not feeling like the person you once were and questioning everything about your life and where you are going. It’s a powerful song which will make you reflect on your own history. Some copies of the album will ship with the ‘Wastelands Version' which is more jazz fueled version with it’s own rock n roll elements.
The piano work and violins throughout this album lift it to a more beautiful place than I could have ever imagined. Eskimo Joe wanted to have an album they could just play, one that was stripped back. I can see their attempts, but this however hasn't stopped their creativity and the intricacies in their actual recording. Earlier in the year they played to small venues in a stripped back acoustic mode, where many songs were road tested, including Echo.
Some incredibly personal issues have come out of this album and its very confronting at times, but as a true fan, it opens me up to what the guys must be going through; infidelity, feeling trapped, haunted by your past, being out of control. I’m sure that many listeners will be able to relate to these emotions and the guys have done a magnificent job of putting them together into a coherent and relatable album. It’s not at the same tempo and style as their previous work and new fans might not understand the album as much. Think back to A Song Is A City with moments of Inshalla. It lifts me and takes me on a journey with them and is honestly their best piece of work to date. Even if you aren't a fan of Eskimo Joe, Ghosts of the Past is mature, cutting, and honest. Enjoy.
Tahlia Jeffery